Maryville man arrested on two counts of attempted sexual misconduct

COLUMBIA – Police arrested a Maryville man Wednesday morning on charges related to sexual misconduct with a child, according to a news release from the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force. The arrest was a result of a task force investigation.

The investigation began in late February when Ricky Lynn Cochran, 43, contacted a detective, posing as a 14-year-old girl, over the Internet, the release said.

The suspect is accused of exposing himself to the detective through a webcam at least two times, said Andy Anderson, the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force coordinator.

Anderson said the task force conducted 120 investigations that resulted in 25 arrests in 2008.

Cochran was arrested by Maryville police on a Boone County warrant. He was arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted sexual misconduct involving a child under 15.

The suspect was released from Nodaway County Jail on Wednesday afternoon after posting a bond of $20,000.